Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The opening day of the state wrestling tournament is just a little more than 10 weeks away.

There will be plenty to pay attention to between now and the first day of the state meet at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines on February 15.

Here are five area wrestlers to keep an eye on this season.

Nelson Brands

West High, Senior

Brands is seeking a third consecutive state title after claiming the Class 3A 152-pound crown a year ago.

The Iowa recruit has posted a 108-4 record while winning back-to-back state titles including a 54-1 mark last season.

Brands was dominant last season, leading the state in takedowns and collecting 34 pins while allowing seven matches to last three full periods.

Jacob Dykes

City High, Senior

Dykes won 46 straight matches to open the season and finished with the second most wins in a season in program history on his way to a fifth-place state finish at 195 pounds.

A two-time state qualifier that is 68-6 over the past two seasons Dykes will attempt to close his prep career on a high note as City High looks to improve on its 11th place team finish at state from last season.

Nick Milder

Regina, Junior

Each of the past two seasons Nick Milder has taken a significant step.

After reaching the state tournament for the first time last season Milder hopes to take another big step toward the podium at the state meet this February.

A two-time River Valley Conference champion with 70 career wins, Milder went 1-2 in his state meet debut a year ago to cap a 36-6 sophomore season.

Milder opens the season ranked sixth at 182 pounds with the intent of taking another step forward this season.

Tyler Linderbaum

Solon, Senior

It has taken just a few seasons on the wrestling mat for Linderbaum to become one of the top heavyweights in Class 2A.

The Iowa football recruit following us a 31-21 performance as a first-year wrestler two seasons ago with a 53-10 record last season that ended with a fifth-place finish at the state meet.

Linderbaum opens the season ranked fourth in Class 2A at 285 pounds.

Hans von Rabenau

West High, Senior

A two-time state qualifier, von Rabenau picked up the first state medal of his career with an eighth-place finish at 106 pounds last season.

After winning 19 matches as a sophomore von Rabenau was 24-10 a year ago and opens the season ranked seventh in Class 3A and 113 pounds.